Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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503. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his Department's submission to the Commissioner for Energy Regulation on water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32738/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from each customer in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers.

In July 2014, a policy direction was issued to the CER in accordance with section 42 of the 2013 Act on a number of matters relating to domestic water charges including the provision of free allowances and the calculation of assessed charges following on from the consideration by Government of proposals in relation to the funding model for Irish Water . A copy of the direction is available on my Department’s website. .

In making its decision on the approval or otherwise of Irish Water's first water charges plan, the CER must take account of the policy direction made under section 42 of the Act. I understand that the CER expect to announce the approved water charges in September 2014.